UK girl's name
Orah
Light or luminous one, of Hebrew origin.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Orah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Orah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2018 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Orah is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Orah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Orah ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 3 girls were registered as Orah.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Orah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5666
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2018
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Orah mean?
The name Orah is believed to have originated from the Hebrew language, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "or," which means "light" or "luminous." This name carries a profound symbolism, often associated with brightness, radiance, and enlightenment.
In the context of Hebrew culture, the name Orah held significant spiritual and religious connotations. It was often used to represent the divine light or the illumination of knowledge and wisdom. The name can be found in various sacred texts and historical records from the region, although specific references are scarce due to the antiquity of the name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Orah can be traced back to the 12th century. Orah ben Yaakov, a renowned Jewish scholar and philosopher, lived during this time and made significant contributions to the study of Jewish mysticism and the Kabbalah.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Orah. In the 16th century, Orah Maimonides, a descendant of the famous philosopher Moses Maimonides, was a respected scholar and teacher in her own right. She worked tirelessly to preserve and promote the teachings of her illustrious ancestor.
Another prominent figure was Orah Shammai, a 17th-century Jewish poet and writer from Poland. Her works, which explored themes of faith, love, and the human experience, were widely celebrated and influential during her lifetime.
In the 19th century, Orah Levi, an Italian-Jewish painter and artist, gained recognition for her exquisite portraiture and landscape paintings. Her works were exhibited in various galleries across Europe and are now considered treasured pieces of art history.
Orah Cohen, a 20th-century Israeli author and activist, is also noteworthy for her contributions to literature and women's rights movements. Her novels and essays explored the complexities of modern life while advocating for gender equality and social justice.
While the name Orah may have originated from ancient Hebrew roots, its symbolic meaning of light and illumination has transcended cultural and religious boundaries, making it a name that resonates with people from diverse backgrounds.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Orah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Orah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5666 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Orah
- Olivia 123,111
- Orla 10,799
- Olive 6,815
- Ophelia 4,939
- Ottilie 4,407
- Oliwia 2,608
- Ocean 1,811
- Orlaith 1,357
- Olivia-Rose 1,250
- Octavia 1,243
- Olivia-Grace 618
- Orlagh 608
FAQ
Orah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Orah in the UK right now?
In 2018, Orah was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Orah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 3 babies registered as Orah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Orah?
Light or luminous one, of Hebrew origin.
How many people are called Orah in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Orah across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.